Human Anatomy and Physiology

Eleventh Edition

Chapter 20
The Lymphatic System and
Lymphoid Organs and Tissues

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Video: Why This Matters (Career Connection)
• Understanding the structure and function of the lymph nodes allows you to evaluate a
patient for signs of infection

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Lymphatic System and Lymphoid Organs
and Tissues
• Lymphatic system returns fluids leaked from blood
vessels back to blood; consists of three parts
1. Network of lymphatic vessels (lymphatics)
2. Lymph: fluid in vessels, Circulates ~ 3L
interstitial fluid per day
3. Lymph nodes: cleanse lymph

• Lymphoid organs and tissues provide structural basis

of immune system by housing phagocytic cells and
lymphocytes
– Structures include spleen, thymus, tonsils, lymph
nodes, other lymphoid tissues

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Distribution and Structure of Lymphatic Vessels
• Lymphatic vessels offer a one-way system, ensuring lymph
flows only toward heart

• Lymph vessels (lymphatics) include lymphatic capillaries and

larger lymphatic vessels

• Lymphatic capillaries
– Blind-ended vessels that weave between tissue cells
and blood capillaries
– Similar to blood capillaries, but more permeable
– Can take up larger molecules and particles that blood
capillaries cannot
▪ Example: proteins, cell debris, pathogens, and
cancer cells
▪ Can act as route for pathogens or cancer cells to
travel throughout body
▪ Absent from bones, teeth, and bone marrow
▪ Once thought to be absent from CNS, but now
found to be present but limited to locations in
meninges where they help to drain interstitial fluid
and CSF.

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Distribution and Structure of Lymphatic
Vessels
• Lymph is delivered from larger vessels
(trunks) into one of two large lymphatic
ducts
– Right lymphatic duct drains right
upper arm and right side of head and
thorax
– Thoracic duct drains rest of body

• Each empties lymph into venous

circulation at junction of internal jugular
and subclavian veins on its own side of
body

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Lymph Transport
• Lymph system is a low-pressure system like venous
system

• Lymph is propelled by same mechanisms:

– Milking action of skeletal muscle
– Pressure changes in thorax during breathing
– Valves to prevent backflow
– Pulsations of nearby arteries
– Contractions of smooth muscle in walls of
lymphatics

• Physical activity increases flow of lymph;

immobilization of area keeps needed inflammatory
material in area for faster healing

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20.2 Lymphoid Cells, Tissues, and
Organs

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Lymphoid Cells
• Lymphoid cells consist of (1) immune system cells
found in lymphoid tissue and (2) supporting cells
that form lymphoid tissue structures
1. Immune system cells
▪ Lymphocytes: cells of the adaptive
immune system; mature into one of two
main types
– T cells (T lymphocytes)
– B cells (B lymphocytes)

2. Supporting lymphoid cell

• Reticular cells produce
reticular fibers called stroma
in lymphoid organs
• Stroma: network-like
support that acts as
scaffolding for immune
cells
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 Lymphoid Organs
• Two main types of lymphoid tissues
– Diffuse lymphoid tissue: loose
arrangement of lymphoid cells and
some reticular fibers
▪ Found in virtually every body organ

– Lymphoid follicles (nodules): solid,

spherical bodies consisting of tightly
packed lymphoid cells and reticular
fibers
▪ Contain germinal centers of
proliferating B cells
▪ May form part of larger lymphoid
organs (nodes)

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 20.3 Lymph Nodes
• Lymph nodes: principal secondary lymphoid
organs of body

• Hundreds of nodes are found throughout body

– Most are embedded deep in connective tissue
in clusters along lymphatic vessels
– Some are nearer to body surface in inguinal,
axillary, and cervical regions of body where
collecting vessels converge into trunks
• Two main functions of lymph nodes
– Cleansing the lymph: act as lymph “filters”
▪ Macrophages remove and destroy
microorganisms and debris that enter
lymph
– Prevent unwanted substances from
being delivered to blood
– Immune system activation: offer a place for
lymphocytes to become activated and mount
an attack against antigens

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Structure of a Lymph Node (1 of 3)
• Vary in shape and size, but most are bean shaped
– Small, less than 2.5 cm (~1 inch)

• Two histologically distinct regions of node:

1. Cortex
2. Medulla

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20.4 Spleen
• Spleen is blood-rich organ about size of fist, located in left side of abdominal cavity, just
below stomach

• Largest lymphoid organ

• Served by splenic artery and vein

• Functions
– Site of lymphocyte proliferation and immune surveillance and response
– Cleanses blood of aged blood cells and platelets; macrophages remove debris

• Splenectomy
– If spleen must be removed, liver and
bone marrow take over most of its
functions
▪ In children younger than 12,
spleen will regenerate if a small
part is left

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Appendix
• Appendix: offshoot of first part of large
intestine

• Contains a large number of lymphoid

follicles

• Location aids in functions

1. Destroy bacteria, preventing them

from breaching intestinal wall

2. Generate “memory” lymphocytes

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20.6 Thymus
• Thymus: bilobed lymphoid organ found in inferior neck
– partially overlies heart

• Functions as lymphoid organ where T cells mature

– Most active and largest in size during childhood
– Stops growing during adolescence, then gradually atrophies
– Still produces immunocompetent cells, though more slowly

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Table 20.1 Summary of Lymphoid Organs
and Tissues

Table 20.1 Summary of Lymphoid Organs and Tissues.

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IP Anatomy Review Animation: Immune

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